Photos

Report

In week 3 of the 2012 Low-Key Hillclimbs we ventured eastward to a previously uncharted climb, the southern slope of Morgan Territory Road, near Livermore. More popularly descended than climbed, this road is nevertheless a scenic, well-paved climb with enough grade variations to create a unique character, and enough total climbing to rank up there in a virtual tie with Old La Honda Road in the Low-Key climb rating system. The relative distance from many of the Low-Key faithful may have reduced the turn-out somewhat relative to Low-Key favorites, but the riders in attendance all experienced a great day of climbing.

It was a cool but certainly not cold morning at the base. After a net gradual first mile with a few steepish rollers, the climb got steeper as riders entered the mist. With poor visibility, the remaining distance was difficult to determine until the grade relented. There the road rose above the fog layer for a fast run to the finish line.

It was a small-group start this week and the first to go was Hybrid-Electric super-champion Bill Bushnell, who soloed to the finish in a characteristically amazing time of 14:32.

Next off was the pair of tandems. Dan and Winnie Brenner took the win here, ahead of the super team of Will and Lynn Van Kaenel.

There were eight men's start groups, seeded by scores so far (or from 2011 if none were available yet this year). Not surprisingly, the top scores came from the first group, with Clark Foy dropping his companions on the steep portion of the climb to reach the finish alone. Carl Nielson was second, also solo, while a group of four sprinted for places 3-6. From the second group, Andy Crews just outsprinted James Porter, Brian Schuster, and Rich Hill in that order.

The women had their own group or had the option of starting with a compatible men's group. Brown Zoners Lisa Penzel and Lynn Sestak both started with men's group 4, to take the top two places in the women's standings this week. Amy Cameron was the first from the women's start group, ahead of Laura Hipp and a super-impressive Lisa Emmerich, Lisa having gained a lot of fitness the past two seasons.

In the team competition, Brown Zone came out on top for the week after starting the minimum three riders, the two women joined by Joe Fant in the men's rankings. Western Wheelers, with recruit Clark Foy leading the way, was a close second, with Sisters and Misters of No Mercy, with second-place Carl Nielson leading, was third.

Results

Strava T-shirt qualifiers indicated with orange background.
Note riders can only qualify once per series, so may not be listed even if they beat the target time for this week.